China evacuates 2 million as Typhoon Bavi makes landfall in Zhejiang

Beijing,UPDATED: Jul 11, 2026 22:44 IST

More than 2 million people were evacuated in eastern China after Typhoon Bavi made landfall in Zhejiang province late on Saturday, bringing strong winds and heavy rain, officials said.

The storm also prompted a wider emergency response across several Chinese cities, including Beijing, as authorities issued the highest rainstorm alert and stepped up flood control and disaster preparedness measures. Flights, ferry services and tourist operations were also affected in parts of eastern China.

Bavi, the ninth typhoon of the year, came ashore on the coast of east China’s Zhejiang Province at around 11.20 pm on Saturday, the provincial meteorological observatory said. State-run Xinhua news agency reported that the typhoon hit Yuhuan City with maximum wind speeds of 40 metres per second at its centre.

Earlier on Saturday, China’s Meteorological Centre issued a red alert for rainstorms, the highest level in its four-tier warning system, and an orange alert for the typhoon, according to Xinhua. The national observatory said torrential rain was expected within 24 hours until 2 pm on Sunday in large parts of the country, including Zhejiang, northern Fujian, north-eastern Jiangxi and southern Anhui, as well as parts of Beijing and Hebei.

Zhejiang stepped up emergency preparations to the highest level, allowing authorities to relocate large numbers of people, close schools and workplaces, and mobilise all necessary resources. In Cangnan County in Wenzhou, identified as a possible landing point for the typhoon, authorities moved residents to safety and opened temporary shelters in local schools.

In Beijing, nine districts activated a Level-I emergency response for flood control on Saturday afternoon after a red alert for torrential rain was issued. The Beijing Meteorological Observatory said heavy rain was forecast in Fangshan, Pinggu, Miyun, Huairou, Mentougou, Fengtai, Daxing, Tongzhou and Shunyi, most of them in the suburbs.

Transport and public activity were disrupted in several places. Scores of flights and ferry services were cancelled across eastern China. China Southern Airlines and Spring Airlines cancelled about 60 flights to and from Shanghai. In the city, more than 50 major tourist attractions were temporarily closed or had their operating hours changed on Saturday, according to the Shanghai Municipal Administration of Culture and Tourism and scenic site operators.

After making landfall, Bavi was forecast to move north-westward before turning more towards the north, with authorities across eastern China maintaining emergency measures as heavy rain and strong winds continued to affect the region.

With PTI Inputs

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